Auburndale Man Accused of Traveling to Meet Minor

Published: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:20 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 1, 2013 at 11:20 a.m.

AUBURNDALE | Polk County Sheriff’s detectives have accused an Auburndale man of traveling to have sex with a minor he met on the Internet.

In early January, Dennis Ray Steelman, 52, of Auburndale, began chatting online with an undercover detective taking part in “Operation Cardea” in Seminole County.

Steelman thought his email conversation was with an aunt looking for someone to “teach” her 11-year-old niece. When Operation Cardea ended Jan. 14, copies of his conversations with undercover detectives with given to detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Through emails and texts, Steelman agreed to travel to an undisclosed location in Davenport to have sex with the 11-year-old girl. When he arrived in Davenport, he was arrested by Polk detectives, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Steelman was booked into the Polk County Jail on Thursday and charged with traveling to meet a minor; using a computer to solicit a guardian to consent to sexual conduct; using a two-way communication device to commit a felony and sexual battery on a minor younger than 12.

<p>AUBURNDALE | Polk County Sheriff's detectives have accused an Auburndale man of traveling to have sex with a minor he met on the Internet.</p><p>In early January, Dennis Ray Steelman, 52, of Auburndale, began chatting online with an undercover detective taking part in “Operation Cardea” in Seminole County.</p><p>Steelman thought his email conversation was with an aunt looking for someone to “teach” her 11-year-old niece. When Operation Cardea ended Jan. 14, copies of his conversations with undercover detectives with given to detectives with the Polk County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>Through emails and texts, Steelman agreed to travel to an undisclosed location in Davenport to have sex with the 11-year-old girl. When he arrived in Davenport, he was arrested by Polk detectives, the Sheriff's Office said.</p><p>Steelman was booked into the Polk County Jail on Thursday and charged with traveling to meet a minor; using a computer to solicit a guardian to consent to sexual conduct; using a two-way communication device to commit a felony and sexual battery on a minor younger than 12.</p>